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Fragrances and asthma/allergies
I wanted to increase awareness about the dangers of fragrances to those of us with breathing difficulties, and those who are affected by fragrances that are all around us. In my own home, I use cleaning products without fragrances and run a HEPA filter with activated carbon that absorbs chemicals from the air so my home is a safe place to breathe. We built a home with building products that didn't have formaldehyde and without carpet because it triggers my asthma. Going out in public is a problem because I'll be bombarded with all kinds of chemicals. My lungs react quickly and I've started carrying a respirator so when I'm in the car and pass something that bothers me, I can get the respirator on to try to avoid problems. I did use the respirator at a play holding it over my face with a cloth over it so no one could see what it was and it worked, and I put it away after the lights came back on. There were people right near me with heavy fragrances that would have caused an asthma attack. As I understand this, it is the chemicals that help distribute the fragrances that are the big offenders... things like phalates. While traveling this weekend, I was happy to see a sign at a rest area that the soap in the washroom was fragrance free because of allergies to fragrances. That is a step in the right direction. It's my hope that people reading this might consider not wearing personal fragrances in public. Workers in health care often do this to help their patients. I hope that sometime in the future, there is some kind of regulation in the fragrance industry. Ingredients are not disclosed and those of us who are affected can have serious reactions. This is a medical problem. I thank those people who are fragrance free in support of those who are like me.
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@animallover25 - last summer at one point I went to express care to be seen by a provider because I thought I might have lice. I have no exposure to small children or anyone who might be prone to lice, but my scalp was itching constantly.
The provider found no lice, which he said didn't guarantee I didn't have them, but he said his best theory was that I was using hair products that were fragranced or contained other irritating ingredients.
I went home and switched to a completely unscented shampoo and conditioner free of dyes, sulfates, parabens and gluten. My head improved in a couple of weeks.
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4 Reactions@animallover25 Thank you for your informative post. We do learn to adapt, don’t we? It sounds like you love animals as much as I do! I have eosinophilic asthma and I tend to get sinus infections that move into my chest. I use generic mucinex as needed and anitihistamines. When a sinus infection begins, I can squash it quickly with an antibiotic ointment Mupirocin used in my nose. This was a protocol before surgery in the past and it works and clears up the infection in a few days. My doctor gave me this prescription to keep on hand when I need to do this. I also wear masks a lot like you, and I have had immune reactions to vaccines so that isn’t safe for me. I think it is polyethylene glycol which was in the Covid vaccines that I had. My husband gets vaccinated and I ask questions. I wear an N95 mask while shopping and in crowds or at a show.
I have cats and I combat the cat dander with HEPA filters and using a light mist of hydrogen peroxide on surfaces using a hair salon type spray bottle. That should not be inhaled, so after I spray in the room, it must be vacant for the time it takes to dry about 15 minutes. Also it will destroy leather. I am very allergic to dust and misting a cloth couch helps that a lot. Vacuuming just doesn’t get it all.
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1 ReactionI have a fragrance allergy, however it is strange it only affects my scalp. It will get red, scab up and itch. One time I used Bath and Body Works shampoo and conditioner. Whoa, man I really got a huge rash in my arm pit. It was awful. It took 3 months for that rash to go away. I even have a scar from the medication I used there. My dermatologist said for me to never use Bath and Body Works products as they are heavily fragranced. I found out thru testing that I was allergic to fragrances. I have worn perfume in the past on my wrists and neck and never gotten a reaction, which is weird. I no longer wear perfume, as I realize it is a bunch of chemicals you are putting on your body. It is not good for your body or the environment. I wish there were more products in the hair aisle at pharmacies, grocery stores, etc... that are fragrance free. I find a few of them, seems like there should be a lot more. I take my shampoo and conditioner to the hair salon with me. Majority of places will allow me to bring it in, only 1 or 2 I have found have said No, they have to use their products. When that happens, I refuse the shampoo part of it, they just wet it down before they cut it. At salons, there are no shampoos that are fragrance free. I found one in Columbus that was gluten free, lol! I went there and it was great! I have gone to being fragrance free for my lotion, skin care. I think a lot of people open a bottle of shampoo at the store and want to smell it to see if it smells good. That is why companies put the fragrance in there as a lot of people want to smell good or their hair smell good. What people don't realize is all the chemicals in the fragrances aren't good for the environment or your health/body. I feel sorry for people like the poster here that has problems with breathing when there are fragrances being used in the room, car or on your body. For those people, I would say wear a mask. I have severe allergies with grass, pollen, mold, trees, ragweed. I can't be outdoors for long, as I start sneezing and having issues. I wear a mask majority of the time outdoors and it has helped tremendously. If I am going to a park for a long walk or going to an amusement park or something like that where I will be outside all day. I usually wear a heavy-duty mask- N95 or a mask with a filter in it. If I am going to the grocery store or to run an errand, then I use the cheapy masks or thinner masks. You can buy some really cute masks online that are fabric with designs. I also have an immune deficiency, so I am immunocompromised. I wear my mask when I am around a lot of people, so I won't get sick.
I don't believe people understand immune deficiencies or maybe some people do if a friend or family member has one. It is similar to cancer, type a deal. Cancer is way worse! My life expectancy is lower because of it. I do weekly infusions, called Subcutaneous injections. A nurse trained me for 3 weeks on how to use my pump and perform my weekly infusions and storage of my medicine, etc... My medicine is stored in the refrigerator. It is antibodies from other people. When you go to give plasma, that is what it is used for. It goes into a big "pool" of antibodies from many different people. They filter it of course, to get out anything not good. Then, the manufacturer takes that and adds other medicine to it to help protect me from Covid, the flu, rsv, and other diseases out there in the community. My antibodies are no good, my body doesn't produce antibodies that work. Your body is interesting, your cells go to "war" to protect you. Most people, your body will do what it is suppose to do, the cells will attack the virus/infection,etc... and you get better or get better with medication. Well, I get anywhere from 6-8 sinus infections a year. It is crazy, I have had to take up to 4 antibiotics to clear up 1 sinus infection. I don't heal well, when I get a cut, scrape, it takes longer for me to see a difference. It is frustrating. After infusions, I now get around 3-4 sinus/ear/upper respiratory infections a year. The infusions do help me. There's no cure for immune deficiencies, only medication to help the symptoms and for me to have less infections in a year. My infusions last about 1 1/2 hours. I have a cart with all my supplies in it. My medications are from a mail order type speciality pharmacy and they send me all the supplies as well. As a result of taking so many antibiotics/steroids and other over the counter medications, nose sprays, etc.... my eyes are taking a "hit". My eye Dr is watching me for glaucoma, don't have a diagnosis of it yet. They see signs of it, which is frustrating, I don't want that. Steroids aren't good for me, as that is what is causing the glaucoma. Dr's prescribe steroids to help, however the side effect is my eyes, it causes problems for your eyes. I have "cupping" they tell me. I'm praying about the situation. I have a silent disability, one that you can't physically and immediately see when you first meet me. Once you get to know me, then you realize I get a sick a lot. Please be understanding when people need to wear a mask, as they may have some sort of immune deficiency or other medical issues.
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1 ReactionI noticed again while traveling this past weekend that both a ride share driver and a shuttle driver we rode with have some kind of faux fragrance in their vehicles. Why is this preferable to no scent? Not sure, but those scents really trigger my allergies and asthma.
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1 ReactionPeople just don’t get it? I always say when I go in an office or in an elevator to my husband please turn around the perfume is awful this can go right to my head in seconds. I wear a mask everywhere and sometimes it goes through it and when I get home my clothes smell.
My husband and I, were invited to my friends For Christmas, I mentioned it would be difficult with my asthma. You know when you have a good friend, she went around and took out all the plug-ins and did not wear any perfume or fragrance while I was there, This included her husband also. The reason everyone says nobody mentions it It’s because people just don’t want to address it in public. There isn’t one thing in my house that has perfume in it. Everything is organic or unscented. Most of my friends are ok with this if someone gets in my car I open all the windows but that is rare.
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2 ReactionsMy ex-wife always accused me of making things up whenever I complained about chemical odors. Candles were the worst. I grew up Catholic and dreaded any mass that included incense burning. It always affected my breathing. I feel much better living alone. No fragrances, no scented candles. no dryer sheets. no odor masking sprays and plug in Glade and so on. It is easier for people to consider you nuts than thy and understand.
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3 ReactionsI have trouble with having people in our home because of fragrances. Even the laundry detergent they use spreads fragrances in my home. Does anyone have any tips for how to have people in your home? I even have to ask them to deodorize their clothes in baking soda before coming, but it’s hard for some people to understand the importance of this.
@lisalucier Thanks so much for your response. It encourages me to keep asking. I have had some negative experiences when I ask people to ask others in groups to refrain from wearing fragrances or to remove an air freshener in a building. Sometimes they basically say that I am just one person who has complained about it, so there is no need to remove the fragrance or ask people to refrain from wearing them. But, I am encouraged by your response, and it’s always worth asking! I’m also encouraged that I’m not alone in this struggle!
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3 Reactions@melissaazgirl Hi Melissa, so sorry you’re dealing with this too. It’s not fun. I find it helpful explaining to people that these fragrances are toxic for everyone and you are hypersensitive to it. 1200 of these chemical chemicals have been banned in Europe and Asia and not banned in North America, including formaldehyde, which makes the smells last longer. Try to explain to them that scented candles, diffusers, fabric softeners, as well as perfumes keep you from joining the group and these chemicals can also have long lasting toxic effects on them as well. They do smell nice, but they’re just toxic chemicals. I have found many of my friends have cleaned these products out of their homes and lives as a result. Good luck to you.
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8 Reactions@melissaazgirl - that's a tough one. I hate to put people out, but I am miserable allergy-wise being in a room with people with various fragrances. In a situation like a choir practice, all the worse, as I will gradually lose my voice.
I find in these types of situations it's best to speak to the person in charge of the event/group privately and see if they will make an announcement about fragrances. In today's climate, I'm finding more and more that they are happy to do so.
How have you handled talking to groups to get them to refrain from wearing fragrances?
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